Black currant plant named ‘Gofert’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Ribes nigrum , ‘Gofert’, that is characterized by its tall and erect plant habit, its vigorous growth rate and a high level of fruit productivity, its medium sized fruit, its high fruit quality with a good taste, high vitamin C content, and medium anthocyanin concentration, its high level of resistance in the field to white pine blister rust ( Cronartium ribicola ) and powdery mildew ( Sphareotheca mors - uvae ), and its very good winter hardiness.

Botanical classification: Ribes nigrum.

Cultivar designation: ‘Gofert’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Ribes nigrum named ‘Gofert’ and is hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Gofert’. ‘Gofert’ represents a new cultivar of black currant grown for fruit production.

The new cultivar was derived from a controlled breeding program by the Inventors in Skierniewice, Poland. The new cultivar resulted from a cross made in 1987 between the Ribes cultivars ‘Golubka’ (not patented) as the female parent and ‘Fertödi-1’ (not patented) as the male parent. The Inventor selected ‘Gofert’, breeding reference no. PC-1, in 1996 as a single unique plant amongst the seedlings that resulted from the above cross.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by one of the Inventors by hardwood cuttings in Skierniewice, Poland in 2010. Asexual propagation by hardwood cuttings of the new cultivar has shown that the unique features are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘Gofert’ as a new and unique cultivar of Ribes nigrum.

-   -   1. ‘Gofert’ exhibits a tall and erect plant habit.     -   2. ‘Gofert’ exhibits a vigorous growth rate and a high level of         fruit productivity.     -   3. ‘Gofert’ exhibits medium sized fruit.     -   4. ‘Gofert’ exhibits high fruit quality with a good taste, high         vitamin ascorbic acid content, and medium anthocyanin         concentration.     -   5. ‘Gofert’ exhibits a high level of resistance in the field to         white pine blister rust (Cronartium ribicola) and powdery mildew         (Sphareotheca mors-uvae).     -   6. ‘Gofert’ exhibits very good winter hardiness.

‘Gofert’ can be compared to its parent plants. Both ‘Golubka’, the female parent, and ‘Fertodi-1’, the male parents differ from ‘Gofert’ in having a less erect plant habit, in having less vigorous plant growth, in having decreased fruit productivity and quality, and in being less resistance to plant fungal diseases. ‘Gofert’ can be most closely compared to the Ribes cultivars ‘Titania’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,439) and ‘Triton’ (not patented). ‘Titania’ is similar to ‘Gofert’ in having a vigorous growth rate, in having an erect plant habit, in having high quality fruit, and in having very good winter hardiness. ‘Titania’ differs from ‘Gofert’ in having leaves that are darker green in color, in having a more spreading plant habit, in having slightly larger fruits, and in being less resistant to fungal diseases. ‘Triton’ is similar to ‘Gofert’ in having a vigorous growth rate, in having an erect plant habit, and in having very good winter hardiness. ‘Triton’ differs from ‘Gofert’ in having leaves that are darker green in color, in having a more spreading plant habit, in having slightly larger fruits that are lower in quality, and in being less resistant to fungal diseases.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new Ribes cultivar. The photographs were taken of three year-old plants of the new cultivar as grown outdoors in a field in Skierniewice, Poland.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a view of the plant habit of ‘Gofert’.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of a fruiting branch of ‘Gofert’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of racemes of fruit and a mature leaf of ‘Gofert’.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with digital photography techniques available, the color values cited in the detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors of the new cultivar of Ribes.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of plants three years in age as grown outdoors in a trial field in Skierniewice, Poland. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2015 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:     -   -   Blooming period.—Late-April to early-May in Skierniewice,             Poland.         -   Plant type.—Perennial, fruit producing shrub.         -   Plant habit.—Tall, erect, and slightly spreading.         -   Height and spread.—Reaches about an average of 1.23 m in             height and 1.78 m in width.         -   Cold hardiness.—At least in U.S.D.A. Zone 6.         -   Diseases and pests.—Has shown resistance to white pine             blister rust (Cronartium ribicola) and powdery mildew             (Sphareotheca mors-uvae).         -   Roots.—Fibrous and 162D in color.         -   Root development.—About 10 days to initiate roots and 2             months to produce a young rooted plant.         -   Propagation.—Hardwood cuttings.         -   Growth rate.—Vigorous. -   Stem description:     -   -   Stem.—Strong, 177B and 196B and 198C in color; new growth,             144A in color, surface is smooth on new growth and smooth             bark-like when mature, main branches up to 115 cm in length             and an average of 30 cm in width.         -   Stem number.—An average of 20 basal shoots per 3 year-old             plant.         -   Leaf bud shape.—Obclavate, bracts imbricate.         -   Leaf bud size.—Average of 7.5 mm in length, 3.7 mm in width.         -   Leaf bud position relative to shoot.—Slightly held out.         -   Leaf bud burst.—Begins in late March to early April in             Poland.         -   Leaf bud apex.—Rounded.         -   Number of leaf buds.—On a 50 cm long stem average of 12             buds, ranging from 11 to 14 buds, per stem.         -   Bracts.—Deltoid in shape, apex retuse to subacute, base             truncate, average 2 cm in width, 3.5 cm in length, margin             entire and fimbriate, young inner surface 145A, flushed with             181A in color, young outer surface 145A in color, older             bracts inner and outer surface 181A in color. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Leaf shape.—Ovate, five lobed with extended center lobe.         -   Leaf division.—Simple, leaf not divided.         -   Leaf base.—Weakly opened.         -   Leaf apex.—Subacute.         -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, color on upper and lower surface             142A, slightly puberulent with fine minute hairs on lower             surface.         -   Leaf margins.—Subacute to acute lobed with lobe margins             serrate.         -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate clusters of leaves.         -   Leaf orientation.—Slightly downward.         -   Leaf surface.—Upper surface glabrous, lower surface slightly             puberulent with fine minute hairs and glandular.         -   Leaf color.—Young upper surface; a blend of N144A and 143A,             young lower surface; N144A, mature upper and lower surface;             143A to 143B.         -   Leaf size.—Medium to large, an average of 10.9 cm in length,             an average of 13.7 cm in width.         -   Leaf quantity.—About 27 per 102 cm of stem length.         -   Petioles.—Round in shape, an average of 65 cm in length and             2.5 mm in width, a blend of 143A and 149A, smooth surface.         -   Stipules.—None observed. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Bloom season.—Approximately April to May in Skierniewice,             Poland.         -   Inflorescence.—Drooping raceme of single and double flowers,             average of 5.2 cm in length and 1.5 cm in width, 12 racemes             per stem 50 cm in length.         -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—8 to 12 days depending on             weather conditions at time of bloom.         -   Pedicels.—Round in shape, 2 mm in width, 4.8 cm in length, a             blend of 149B and 181A, strong, surface texture smooth.         -   Peduncles.—Round in shape an average of 5 mm in length and 1             mm in width, strong, surface is smooth, a blend of 143A and             181A and 180A, turning 150A towards the tip.         -   Flowers.—Campanulate, 6 to 10 flowers per raceme.         -   Flower buds.—Ovate in shape, 4 to 7 mm in length, 4 mm in             width, color; middle section a blend of 149A and 145C, base             is 145A, suffused with 178A.         -   Flower size.—Average of 6.2 mm in length, 6.4 mm in width.         -   Flower number.—An average of 10 flowers per raceme             (inflorescence).         -   Sepals.—5, strongly recurved, 2 mm in width, 3 mm in length             fused at base, color on outer and inner surface; a middle             section N144C, tips a blend of 63C, 75B and 73A, suffused             with 178A at the base in color, rounded apex, margins             entire, sparsely pubescent on upper surface and pubescent on             lower surface.         -   Petals.—5 fused in hypanthium, 4 mm in length, 3 mm in             width, 145B to 145C in color on inner and outer surface,             upper surface smooth (texture) and smooth (texture) lower             surface.         -   Androecium.—Epipetalous, anthers are ovate in shape, 11C in             color, 0.6 mm in length and width, filaments are 3 mm in             length, 0.6 mm in width, 11D in color.         -   Gynoecium.—5 fused in hypanthium, style is 4 mm in length,             0.7 mm in width, 14BA in color, ovary is inferior, 3 mm in             length and width, round in shape, 145B in color, bifid             stigma is minute and 145B in color. -   Fruit description:     -   -   Fruit number.—80 to 112 fruits per branch 84 cm long.         -   Fruit yield.—2.40 kg per plant in Skierniewice, Poland on 5             year-old plants.         -   Fruit set.—High, 70%.         -   Fruit size.—Medium to large, average of 1.33 cm in diameter             and 1.31 cm in height.         -   Fruit weight.—Ranges from 0.9 to 1.2 g/berry.         -   Fruit chemistry.—Averages: Brix 18.1, specific gravity             1.045, high in acidity, tartaric and 26.6 g/L citric,             anthoncyanins 313 mg/100 g (517 nm), ascorbic acid 208             ml/100 g.         -   Position of maximum diameter.—Midway between proximal and             distal ends.         -   Fruit shape.—Globose.         -   Fruit symmetry.—Symmetric.         -   Persistence of calyx.—Persistent at harvest, 177A in color,             3 mm in length.         -   Surface.—Glossy, smooth except for slightly protruding             lenticels.         -   Lenticels.—15 to 65 per fruit, 198D in color.         -   Waxiness of skin.—Light.         -   Thickness of skin.—Medium.         -   Skin color.—Immature 145A, maturing 181A, mature 202A.         -   Color of flesh.—N79A.         -   Fruit maturity date.—Early ripening, first harvest date             about July 10^(th), range of harvest period one week.         -   Seed.—Oblong in shape, 51 per fruit, 2.5 mm in length, 1.3             mm in width, 200C in color.         -   Firmness (without skin).—Medium.         -   Texture of flesh.—Pulpy, juicy.         -   Cropping frequency.—Regular.         -   Flavor.—Sweet.         -   Fruit use.—Fresh consumption and for processing for use in             concentrates, frozen foods, and preserves.         -   Juice yield.—18.2 ml/100 berries.         -   Fruit keeping quality.—Good. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Ribes nigrum plant named ‘Gofert’ as herein illustrated and described. 